Possible candidate meets pope

The Astoria-based American Hellenic Philanthropic and Educational Association (AHEPA) of New York participated in a pilgrimage recently which included a Mass for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The service was jointly celebrated by Pope Benedict and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, as was a Vesper service at the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle. New York City businessperson and aspiring mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis (right) shakes hands with Pope Benedict during an audience in the papal residence following the Mass, on Sunday, June 29. Catsimatidis is a major supporter of AHEPA. The leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in the western hemisphere, his Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America (center), led the pilgrimage.